Commissioner-General’s Statement Response to media reports regarding letter forwarded to President Obama 28 February 2009

The guards at UNRWA Headquarters front gate occasionally receive sealed envelopes addressed to persons outside Gaza. Generally, the practice is to forward such letters, in good faith. The letter addressed to President Obama (sealed and with a Palestinian National Authority return address) was handled in this way.

The Agency insists that there is no basis whatsoever for the allegation that it intended to provide support to, or act as a messenger for, any political or militant group. UNRWA, as a humanitarian and human development agency, maintains that this incident in no way detracts from its neutrality as a United Nations body.

The Commissioner-General deeply regrets any awkwardness that has ensued.